CENTRE WELLINGTON – The Township of Centre Wellington is looking to improve “neighbourhood wellness” but exactly how remains a work in progress.
Councillor Stephen Kitras brought forward a notice of motion at Monday’s meeting to form a “community wellbeing and neighbourhood hospitality task force.”
Kitras’ motion notes Centre Wellington is rapidly growing which on top of the pandemic has increased isolation from the surrounding community.
This task force is focused on enhancing mental and emotional health of the community through building neighbourhood social interaction.
“The task force will establish a document that gives the contents of how to start a neighbourhood group, how to organize with guidelines and etiquette for events on public properties and or on private properties and a sampling of activities that can be organized or be spontaneous gestures to enhance hospitality to new neighbours and the wellness of the neighbourhood,” Kitras’ motion reads.
Kitras said at the meeting he envisions this as a grassroots initiative that also considers how to bring this to rural residents as well.
Kendra Martin, Centre Wellington communications coordinator, presented a report that also supported resident-led community building.
Martin said staff agree neighbourhood connectivity is very important and are looking to create a one year pilot project that provides “mini-grants” for neighbourhood events.
“I do monitor our Facebook and Twitter account and I hear people feel they’re not involved in much,” Martin said, adding COVID has played a big role in this as well.
The staff proposal would see up to three neighbourhoods receive grants of up to $1,000 each for neighbourhood projects which would be approved by the Community Services Advisory Committee (CSAC).
Included in the report were examples of other cities with similar programs such as Toronto, Hamilton, Kitchener and Innisfil.
“We have had a lot of people move into this community during COVID ... they’ve been locked down since they got here,” Coun. Neil Dunsmore said in support of the proposals.
Coun. Kirk McElwain noted synergy between both approaches.
“I think from my perspective, the task force concept would be a great vehicle for launching the neighbourhood approach Kendra is presenting,” McElwain said.
Mayor Kelly Linton said he was pleased to see this on their radar but didn’t think a new committee was required.
He noted there’s a process to follow when setting up a committee and it’s “not just turning on a switch.”
CAO Andy Goldie suggested both proposals could be discussed at the next CSAC meeting to see how both options could be blended together.
Goldie said using this existing committee provides a good cross-section of residents and could turn this around quicker.
Dunsmore made a motion to refer both proposals to CSAC which was unanimously approved.
